Kukla's Korner Hockey

There are many layers of drama attached to Saturday night’s Game 6 at SAP Center. The top layer, of course, is whether the Sharks, trailing three games to two, find a way to take the series back to Edmonton on Monday. But there is also plenty of subtext drama. None of that drama is more dramatic than the drama-laden possibility that Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton could both be making dramatic exits by playing their final games in San Jose uniforms at the Shark Tank.

Both are 37 years old. Both will be 38 by October when the next regular season begins. Both are unrestricted free agents this summer. Both wish to continue playing hockey. Is it even possible that both will be back in teal for the 2017-18 season? They have decisions to make. So does general manager Doug Wilson. Saturday night could be when the storylines merge.

One game will not decide whether Marleau or Thornton or both remain part of the beloved Los Tiburones. But the result of this series could. Both say they wish to continue playing hockey. But if the Sharks can’t go farther than the first round at this stage of their careers, does the team still want or need them? Or should the salary cap money go to younger players? Likewise, do Marleau and Thornton still want or need the Sharks? Or would they prefer joining another Stanley Cup contender in need of a final missing piece? Will they demand multi-year deals at major money or give a hometown discount?

Comments

For as great of a career as Thornton has had, I’ll be glad to be rid of him and that ridiculous goddamned beard. It’s like he thought that if he grew that monstrosity then people would somehow take him seriously as a leader and forget about the catastrophe that is the Thornton-lead Sharks’ postseason history.

But really, I think Jumbo Joe is on his way out the door to somewhere if they don’t win the cup. Especially with being stripped of the C and all. Marleau isn’t going anywhere, he’s spent his whole career with SJ. He’ll probably take a discount. Seriously would not be surprised if Kenny signed Thorton this off season, for real.